I. CONSOLIDATION OF THE DIEM GOVERNMENT, JANUARY–MAY 1955: UNITED STATES AND FRENCH TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES IN VIETNAM; CONSIDERATION OF REPLACEMENT OF DIEM; THE SECT CRISIS IN SAIGON; DECISION TO SUPPORT Diem
121. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in Vietnam
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1655. Top Secret; Niact. Drafted and signed by Dulles. At midday April 16, Dulles met with Radford, Anderson, Wisner, Stump, and Hoover to discuss sending this cable. Two telephone calls were made and transcribed during the meeting. At 12:48 p.m. Dulles called Hagerty, who was with the President in Augusta, Georgia and asked him to inform Eisenhower that it was the consensus of the meeting that Collins should return to Washington to discuss plans for Diem’s replacement because such a decision could not be made by cable. At 1:09 p.m. Dulles called MacArthur and informed him of the meeting and the decision to ask Collins to return for consultations. Dulles went on to add that participants at the meeting “think the situation is getting so confused between us that we must ask him to come back.” The Secretary then read the proposed cable to MacArthur for his approval. MacArthur concurred but added that in the last paragraph of the text, referring to a potential Congressional decision to cut off appropriations for Vietnam, Dulles might wish to add a reference to the $100 million for the FEC. MacArthur noted that the French were banking on receiving this aid from the United States. Dulles said he might do this. (Both memoranda, April 16; Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)
122. Telegram From the Ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1755. Top Secret; Niact. Repeated for information niact to Saigon.
123. Memorandum From the Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group in Vietnam (O’Daniel) to the Special Representative in Vietnam (Collins)
Source: Collins Papers, Vietnam File, Series VII, O. Secret.
124. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1755. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Also sent priority to Saigon; drafted by Hoey; cleared by Young, Merchant, MacArthur, and Robertson; and signed by Dulles.
125. Telegram From the Special Representative in Vietnam (Collins) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1955. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated for information priority to Paris for Dillon. Portions of this telegram are also printed in United States–Vietnam Relations, Book 10, pp. 912–914.
126. Telegram From the Special Representative in Vietnam (Collins) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1955. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated for information priority to Paris for Dillon. Printed also in United States–Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 915–917.
127. Telegram From the Special Representative in Vietnam (Collins) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–1955. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Repeated for information priority to Paris for Dillon. Printed also in United States–Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 918–922.
128. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Special Representative in Vietnam (Collins)
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, Indochina, June 1954–April 1956. Top Secret; Personal and Private. Drafted by Dulles.
129. Memorandum of a Conversation, Paris, April 21, 1955
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2155. Top Secret. Drafted by Gibson.
130. Memorandum for the Record, by Senator Mike Mansfield
Source: University of Montana, Mansfield Papers, Series XXII, Box 107, Vietnam.
131. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Hensel) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Robertson)
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2255. Top Secret. This letter and its attachments are also printed in United States–Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 923–936.
132. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2355. Top Secret. Drafted by Young.
133. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs (Davis) to the Assistant Secretary of Defense, International Security Affairs (Hensel)
Source: United States–Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 937–940.
134. Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State
Source: Collins Papers, Vietnam File, Series VII, S. Secret. The document bears the marginal notation “File—Sturm”. Sturm accompanied Collins to Washington. Another marginal notation indicates that at least 11 copies of this memorandum were prepared.
135. Memorandum From Frank Valeo to Senator Mike Mansfield
Source: University of Montana, Mansfield Papers, Series XXII, Box 107, Vietnam. Frank Valeo was Senator Mansfield’s Legislative Assistant.
136. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Director of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs (Young) and the First Secretary of Embassy in France (Gibson), April 26, 1955
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2655. Secret. Drafted by Young in Washington.
137. Memorandum of a Telephone Conversation Between the Secretary of State and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald), Washington, April 26, 1955, 6:57 p.m.
Source: Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations. Transcribed by Phyllis D. Bernau, Dulles’ secretary.
138. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Sebald) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, S/P–NSC Files: Lot 62 D 1, NSC 5519 Series. Secret. Drafted by Young in response to a memorandum by Sturgill of S/S to FE, April 25, attached to the source text, in which Sturgill requested a one-page briefing memorandum for use by Dulles in preparation for the NSC meeting on April 28.
139. Memorandum for the Record
Source: University of Montana Library, Mansfield Papers, Series XXII, Box 107, Vietnam. The source text bears no indication of authorship or occasion.
140. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2755. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Young; cleared by Bowie, Tyler, Collins, Murphy, Sebald, and MacArthur; and signed by Dulles. Repeated for information priority to Saigon.
141. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2755. Top Secret; Priority; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Young and cleared with Murphy, MacArthur, Collins, Tyler, Sebald, and Bowie; signed by Dulles. Sent also niact to Saigon. Printed also in United States–Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967, Book 10, pp. 941–944.
142. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2755. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Hoey and cleared in substance with Dulles, Murphy, MacArthur, Bowie, and Tyler. Repeated for information niact to Saigon and niact to Nice for Gibson.
144. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2755. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Young and cleared in substance with Dulles and Hoover. Sent also niact to Saigon and niact to Nice for Gibson.
This telegram is mentioned in the memorandum of two telephone conversations, both transcribed by Phyllis Bernau of the Secretary’s office. The first, at 8:38 a.m., April 28, was between the Secretary and Allen Dulles; the transcription reads as follows:
“Re Vietnam—the Sec. told Hoover to send a cable to block the cables we sent to Saigon and Paris. AWD said it looks as though the Binh Xuyen are shelling the Palace as reprisal for replacing the chief of police. AWD hopes to have it pulled together for NSC. The Sec. would not think that means we should hold up our planning. AWD said it takes us off the hook. It is better to make a change in the light of a civil war situation.” (Eisenhower Library, Dulles Papers, General Telephone Conversations)
The second conversation, 9:15 a.m., also on April 28, was between the Secretary and Collins and reads as follows:
“C. returned the call and the Sec. said things seem to be heating up in Vietnam. C. said apparently so from the radio. The Sec. said after talking with the Sec., Hoover sent out a message not to act until we had further information. We should decide during the day—apparently there is a new truce. The Sec. does not know if Diem is losing control or possibly emerging a hero. There is evidence the Army responded pretty effectively and gained control of the situation. We should study reports re altering our position. C. will be at NSC at 11. The Sec. suggested he talk with Hoover and others. C. said he had an appointment with Hensel at 10. The Sec. said he does not know if we will have adequate information at hand to judge. It might be better to put off the meeting until 12. They agreed to try to make it after NSC—I’m not clear if the Sec. included himself or the mtg. he mentioned above with Hoover et al.” (Ibid.)
146. Telegram From the Chargé in Vietnam (Kidder) to the Department of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2855. Secret; Priority. Repeated for information priority to Paris.
147. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Deputy Special Assistant for Intelligence (Howe)
Source: Department of State, INR Files: Lot 58 D 776, Indochina. Secret.
148. Memorandum of Discussion at the 246th Meeting of the National Security Council, Washington, April 28, 1955
Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, NSC Records. Top Secret. Drafted by Gleason on April 29.
149. Telegram From the Secretary of State to the Embassy in France
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751G.00/4–2855. Top Secret; Niact; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Young and cleared in substance with Dulles. Repeated for information niact to Saigon.
150. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Philippine and Southeast Asian Affairs (Young) to the Secretary of State
Source: Department of State, Central Files, 751K.00/4–2955. Top Secret. Drafted by Hoey. Also sent to Hoover, Murphy, MacArthur, Merchant, and Sebald.